Xiao Jinyan looked at the pink clothes she was wearing, which suited her already youthful face so well that calling her a little girl wouldn’t be an overstatement.

Most of her women’s clothing was pink, but she also had red and light-colored outfits.

Shen Chuwei raised her head to find Xiao Jinyan staring at her, and she asked in confusion, "What are you looking at?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Ten years from now, when you go out with your daughter, people will probably mistake you for sisters rather than mother and daughter."

Shen Chuwei was quite proud, "That just means I look young, what’s bad about that?"

Xiao Jinyan laughed softly, "Nothing bad at all, let’s go."

Shen Chuwei, happy, reached out and took Xiao Jinyan’s hand initiatively, "Delicious food, here I come."

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyan laughed out loud, but shook his head helplessly.

Shen Chuwei actually liked the outside life quite a bit, aside from the constant traveling, because it wasn’t so formal outdoors; she and Xiao Jinyan were just like any other ordinary couple.

It actually felt more like being a couple deeply in love, perhaps because Jinyan couldn’t remember why.

Thinking back, it seemed they both had skipped the stage of talking about love and were now making up for it.

Upon leaving the Inn, they were greeted by the lively streets, just as bustling at night as during the day.

Shen Chuwei walked around, pausing in front of various shops, her target being delicious food.

Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a foul smell and followed it to a corner stall where she was amazed to find fried stinky tofu.

"They actually have stinky tofu here."

Xiao Jinyan, holding his nose, followed Shen Chuwei and saw the black, stinky morsels; he took her hand and tried to lead her away, "Chuwei, let’s quickly leave."

He really feared Shen Chuwei might pass out from the stench.

Just as she was about to buy some to try, Xiao Jinyan unceremoniously dragged her away...

"My lord, don’t go, ah!"

Xiao Jinyan said, covering his nose and mouth, "Didn’t you smell that stuff is all spoiled?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "My Lord, that’s stinky tofu, it isn’t spoiled, and it actually tastes quite good."

Xiao Jinyan glanced at the black stuff with distaste and said, "It smells like this and it’s not spoiled?"

"My lord, let’s go, let’s buy some to try." Shen Chuwei was so eager she even pulled Xiao Jinyan to the Stall Owner’s front.

The Stall Owner asked with a smile, "Miss, would you like some stinky tofu?"

Shen Chuwei glanced at the stinky tofu, surprised to find it in Nanzhao Country, and quite authentic-looking at that.

"Let’s start with two pieces to see if it’s good, and if it’s delicious, I’ll buy more."

"Rest assured, I’ve been selling stinky tofu for almost ten years—nobody’s got the authentic flavor like mine." The Stall Owner said as he picked up two pieces of stinky tofu, sprinkled some chili sauce and cilantro on them, and handed them to her.

As Shen Chuwei took the stinky tofu, she sized up the Stall Owner, who wasn’t more than in his twenties, surprised he had been selling it for ten years.

"You’re so impressive, you started selling stinky tofu in your teens? Is it a family recipe?"

"No, I’ve only been selling it for two years myself.

Before that, it was my mother running the stall.

She’s been unwell these past two years, so I took over.

But my mother did say that in the entire Nanzhao Country, our family was the first to sell stinky tofu, and before that, we were selling regular tofu.

" The talkative Stall Owner gave her the whole story in one breath.

After trying a bite of stinky tofu, Shen Chuwei found it quite good and became somewhat curious, "So how did you end up switching to selling stinky tofu?"

Xiao Jinyan watched Shen Chuwei eat the black, stinky stuff, unable to comprehend how she could stomach it.

"My mother had been selling tofu for many years. When we couldn’t sell or eat all the tofu, it would go bad.

It seemed such a waste to discard it. Then one day, a young noble suggested that even spoiled tofu could be eaten and sold for money.

That young noble taught the method for making stinky tofu.

Sell fresh tofu in the morning and stinky tofu at night—it was the best of both worlds.

We never wasted spoiled tofu again." The Stall Owner continued his tale while tossing a few more pieces of stinky tofu into the fryer.

Having finished her tofu and listening to the Stall Owner’s story, Shen Chuwei felt indeed like she had encountered a person of great fortune.

"Give me ten more pieces."

"Right away." The Stall Owner used bamboo tongs to pick out ten pieces, wrapped them in oiled paper, sprinkled some chili and cilantro, and handed them over.

Shen Chuwei joyously accepted them and used a bamboo skewer to offer a piece to Xiao Jinyan’s mouth, but he immediately dodged, covering his nose.

"My lord, don’t dodge it, it’s really delicious."

Xiao Jinyan looked disgusted, "I won’t eat it."

Shen Chuwei felt that delicious food must be shared with Xiao Jinyan, so she coaxed him, "Just pinch your nose and close your eyes to take a bite, I promise it’s tasty."

Xiao Jinyan gave the stinky tofu before him a wary glance; the stench was inescapable. He said with difficulty, "I can’t eat it."

Seeing his look of revulsion, Shen Chuwei continued to coax, "Close your eyes and pinch your nose."

Xiao Jinyan saw how insistent she was and, not wanting to disappoint her, reluctantly agreed, closing his eyes and pinching his nose tightly.

Seeing this, Shen Chuwei happily lifted the stinky tofu to his lips, "My lord, open your mouth."

Although Xiao Jinyan closed his eyes and pinched his nose, unable to see or smell, he could still imagine—imagining the black, stinky thing at his lips made him, a man with a serious case of germophobia, almost feel sick...

Shen Chuwei saw his mouth was closed; obviously, she couldn’t stuff it in by force... so she kept on coaxing, "My lord, why don’t you trust my taste? You’ll regret not eating."

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyan thought she made sense; if he didn’t eat it, wouldn’t that mean he didn’t trust her?

She loved eating so much, perhaps the food wasn’t as unpalatable as he imagined.

Torn inside, he gingerly opened his mouth and took a cautious bite of the stinky tofu. As soon as it entered his mouth, he nearly swallowed it whole...

Table of Contents